Insulin Signaling

The insulin signaling pathways play key roles in energy metabolism, growth, and cellular differentiation. The key ligands for these pathways include the hormone insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF1 and IGF2). These ligands bind with different affinities to insulin receptor and IGF1 receptor homo- and heteroduplexes. Receptor activation leads to downstream signaling through the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways, ultimately activating target gene expression. Signaling through the insulin receptor either promotes mitogenesis or glucose and fatty acid storage. This pathway also inhibits lipid and carbohydrate degradation. Signaling through IGF1R promotes cell growth and inhibits apoptosis. Dysregulation of these pathways commonly occurs during carcinogenesis, possibly due to the prominent role of insulin signaling in mitogenesis. Insulin resistance is a common symptom of diabetes and obesity, resulting from dysregulated energy homeostasis. ...

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The insulin signaling pathways play key roles in energy metabolism, growth, and cellular differentiation. The key ligands for these pathways include the hormone insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF1 and IGF2). These ligands bind with different affinities to insulin receptor and IGF1 receptor homo- and heteroduplexes. Receptor activation leads to downstream signaling through the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways, ultimately activating target gene expression. Signaling through the insulin receptor either promotes mitogenesis or glucose and fatty acid storage. This pathway also inhibits lipid and carbohydrate degradation. Signaling through IGF1R promotes cell growth and inhibits apoptosis. Dysregulation of these pathways commonly occurs during carcinogenesis, possibly due to the prominent role of insulin signaling in mitogenesis. Insulin resistance is a common symptom of diabetes and obesity, resulting from dysregulated energy homeostasis.